Tours in Ulan-Ude

Ulan-Ude is the capital of Buryatia Republic. It is situated at the place of inflow of the Uda and Selenga rivers. Earlier this city was called Verhneudinsk. Ulan-Ude received its current name in 1934; and it means “red river” in Buryat language, that corresponded to the ideology of Soviet times. After a big fire of 1878, Ulan-Ude was almost completely rebuilt. In 1900 the Trans-Siberian Railway reached the city, that caused its development. Until 1991 the city was closed to foreigners. Now Ulan-Ude is an old historic and cultural center of Far East. Mongolian and Buryiat cultures have notably influenced the city. Buddhism, Shamanism & Orthodox Christianity coexist peacefully in Ulan-Ude.

 

GUIDED TOURS IN ULAN-UDE

We offer you to start getting acquainted with Ulan-Ude with taking the City tour, during with you will be told about the history of this settlement and you will see the most significant sights of the city. You will see the historical center of Ulan-Ude, located along the banks of the river as a bizarre amphitheater with its 1- and 2-storeyed houses of the XVIII-XIX centuries, that belonged to the local merchants. Of course, you will visit the main square with the most extraordinary Monument to Lenin (that represents just Lenin’s head, but of a very huge size – thus it is the biggest sculpture of Lenin’s head in the world). This monument was sculptured and raised in 1970-1971 and has been remained in Ulan-Ude from those Soviet times, and in spite of everything it is still one of the symbols of the city. You will also see the Holy Trinity Church and the Hodegetria Cathedral (the Holy Odigitrievsky cathedral), the Buryat Opera and Ballet Theatre and other historical monuments. One more interesting place of Ulan-Ude, that is usually included in the city tour, is Great Merchants’ Rows – an architectural monument of the XIX century, beautifully decorated with stone and wood carvings, that is a wonderful example of Russian classicism. Besides this city tour we can suggest you the excursion to Ivolginsky Datsan, that is located about 36 km away from Ulan-Ude. It is a unique opportunity to visit real, active and famous Buddist Monastery. Ivolginskiy Datsan was built in 1945-1948. It is famous throughout the world. It is also the main Buddhist temple of Russia. Later on in 1970-1990 there were erected some other buildings of this Buddist complex. Nowadays the Ivolginskiy Datsan complex consists of about 12 buddist temples, cathedrals, churches and some other monastery buildings and constructions. This is the main residence of Pandito Hambo Lama and Central Ecclesiastical Directorate of Russian Buddhists. Another interesting tour, that we can offer you, is excursion to the Buryat Village, where you will be able to get acquainted with traditions, customs and mode of life of Buryat people. You will see their traditional dresses, will understand their habits, how they used to live; and also you will visit the Local Lore museum. In the end of this ethnic tour you will see the Buryat folk show and have a national Buryat dinner. Upon your request we can try to arrange for you visiting the shaman ceremony, performed by local Buryat shamans. Or you can also make a special tour, distinguished from all other excursions, to the village of Russian Old Believers, where traditions and mode of life of Russian peasants of past centuries are still kept. During this tour you will visit the Old Orthodox church and Local Lore museum, that represents culture and habits of local people. This tour usually is finished by seeing the folk show (Old Russian songs and dances) and having a traditional dinner.

NB! Prices are indicated PER PERSON in EUR.

NAME OF THE TOUR	2 PAX	3-4 PAX	5-6 PAX
Standard City Tour (3 hours)
City Tour + Ivolginskiy Datsan (6 hours)
City Tour + Buryat village” (6 hours)
Tour: Ivolginskiy Datsan + Buryat village (6 hours)
Tour to the village of Old Believers (5-6 hours)